Athletics will be the major attraction at the first Under-23 ECOWAS Games slated for Abuja in September, it has been revealed.So far, 11 of the 12 countries expected at the games have submitted their entries for athletics.

They are Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Niger Republic, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo and Mali.Mr Peter Nelson, the Chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday that athletics competition would hold in the male and female categories.

The games are scheduled for Sept. 2 to Sept. 13 at the Package B of the Abuja National Stadium.

Only four sports are to be competed for at the games, with competitions in both the male and female categories in athletics, handball and volleyball, while traditional wrestling will feature on the male category.

"We already have confirmation on this from the entry lists sent in by the countries that have confirmed their participation as at Aug. 18.

"From this, we have it that all the expected countries, with the exception of Sierra Leone, are taking part in athletics in both the male and female categories," he said.

According to the list of entries, athletics have the biggest entries of 11, with handball in both male and female categories having six entries each.

Volleyball has eight entries in the male category while six countries indicated interest in the female category.

Nine countries are to take part in African traditional wrestling.

Nelson, who is also the games' Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said that Nigeria, Benin and Niger Republic had registered athletes for competition in all the sports.

"This means that Nigeria, Niger and Benin will compete in both the male and female categories of the competition in athletics, handball and volleyball.

"They will also have athletes in the only available male competition in African traditional wrestling," he said.

The chairman also said that while Burkina Faso would take part in all four events, it would not participate in the male handball and female volleyball competitions.

"Cote d'Ivoire will also take part in the male and female competitions of athletics, handball and volleyball, but not in African traditional wrestling.

"Ghana will take part in all categories of athletics, but only in the male category of handball and volleyball.

"Guinea will participate fully in athletics and African traditional wrestling, but only its female handballers and male volleyballers will be here," he said.

Nelson said Guinea Bissau and Togo would participate only in athletics and African traditional wrestling, while Sierra Leone would be around for only volleyball.

"Senegal will participate in athletics, female volleyball and African traditional wrestling, while Mali will take part in athletics, male handball and African traditional wrestling," he added.